Phillips Nizer LLP is pleased to announce that Matthew L. Levine, who has served in senior enforcement and regulatory roles on both the federal and state level, has joined the firm as a partner in its New York office.
Mr. Levine joins Phillips Nizer from Guidepost Solutions, a compliance and investigations consulting firm, where he served as President for the Financial and Regulatory Compliance Services practice.
Mr. Levine previously served as the first Executive Deputy Superintendent for Enforcement for the New York State Department of Financial Services. There he oversaw complex investigations involving money laundering, terrorist financing, cybercrime, virtual currency fraud, tax fraud, and consumer fraud. He also supervised major monitorships implemented by NYDFS at financial institutions, and served as the main point of contact for other criminal and civil governmental authorities. Additionally, Mr. Levine represented NYDFS in high impact litigation in both federal and state court.
Mr. Levine also served as a federal prosecutor for nearly a decade, first in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and later in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. In the Eastern District, Mr. Levine served as Acting Chief of the Business & Securities Fraud Section, supervising a group of federal prosecutors conducting major securities fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, health care fraud, tax fraud and other white-collar prosecutions.
Mr. Levine also assists companies in compliance matters and investigations, including risk assessments, strengthening risk management and compliance programs, remediation efforts, corporate monitorships, and internal investigations. Representative matters involve the financial markets, anti-bribery, cybercrime and intellectual property. Mr. Levine previously litigated on behalf of a wide range of clients, including Fortune 100 companies, high-tech startups, and individuals, at two major law firms and in his own practice. Representations include numerous intellectual property matters involving disputes involving trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, patents and technology licensing.
At Phillips Nizer, Mr. Levine is rejoining colleagues who were veterans in enforcement and financial regulation. Mr. Levine worked with Phillips Nizer White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Chair Ilene Jaroslaw, who served as chief of the General Crimes Section at the EDNY.
He also worked with Data Technology & Cybersecurity Group Chair Patrick Burke at the NYS Department of Financial Services, where Mr. Burke served as a Deputy Superintendent.
All three of them, along with Phillips Nizer Litigation Chair Mark Elliott, previously worked at law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
“We are very happy to welcome Matt to the firm, where he is rejoining colleagues with deep experience in both New York State and DOJ matters. We are fortunate to be able to provide clients with a team of attorneys who have been at the highest levels of government and have also worked together over the years in crafting the regulatory programs that companies must comply with,” said Marc Landis, Managing Partner of Phillips Nizer.
“In a time when financial services enforcement and regulation is ramping up at all level of government, companies are looking for experienced advisors who can help them meet the compliance and investigation challenges. Matt, who has been on the front lines of some of the most important enforcement cases in recent years, will be a great addition to our team,” said Mr. Elliott.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Levine worked as Deputy Director in the US Department of Justice’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He also clerked for Chief United States District Judge Barefoot Sanders. He began his career as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill to Representative Les Aspin, the former Secretary of Defense.
“Phillips Nizer has established a reputation as a leader in compliance and defense work. The firm has also become a leader in financial technology issues,” Mr. Levine said. “It is exciting to rejoin some of the top attorneys I have worked with over the years.”
Mr. Levine received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from Lehigh University.
About Phillips Nizer LLP:
Phillips Nizer, founded in 1926, represents domestic and international clients in business; finance and real estate transactions; intellectual property matters; commercial litigation; labor and employment matters; matrimonial and family law; and tax and estate planning, with a particular focus on the entertainment, fashion, real estate and technology industries.
Phillips Nizer’s principal office is in Manhattan, with additional offices in New Jersey and an international branch office in Geneva, Switzerland. The firm is a member of Ally Law, a worldwide network of independent, midsized law firms. To learn more about Phillips Nizer LLP, visit: www.phillipsnizer.com.
